Attend social events

Attending social events provides exposure to the weak ties that Granovetter's research (1973) identified as disproportionately valuable for personal and professional opportunities. While close friends provide emotional support, it is often acquaintances — people you see at events and gatherings — who provide access to novel information, job leads, and diverse perspectives. Putnam's social capital research reinforces this finding: communities with higher rates of event participation show greater civic engagement, economic mobility, and collective trust. Social events also serve as practice for maintaining social skills, which, like physical fitness, atrophy without regular use. The discomfort many feel before attending an event is typically a poor predictor of the enjoyment they experience once there.

• 1
  You RSVP yes to events but cancel at the last minute more often than you attend
• 2
  You have not attended a social gathering outside of work obligations in over a month
• 3
  You feel increasing anxiety about attending events because you are out of practice
• 4
  Your social calendar is entirely empty for the next two weeks

Consider these questions to understand where you stand: